SA's inadequate skills base is a fallacious refrain

M

mystic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2003
Messages
144
Reaction score
0
Location
Pretoria
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=553&fArticleId=3005579
The international boom in broadband, internet communications and cellphones has meant that more technicians are needed to install and maintain these systems. But Telkom, before it came late to the broadband market, shed nearly half of its 64 000-strong workforce, among them a core of highly skilled workers.

"Now the company is finding that it does not have enough staff to cope and is having to outsource where it can, while trying to lure back staff it has already paid off," says Sithebe.

This has also meant delays, customer frustration and a slide into potential illegality by the Telkom monopoly.

"Telkom is certainly guilty of misrepresentation by contractually promising to deliver a service by a certain date and then not doing so," says Neville Rubin honorary professor of law at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

But Telkom, obviously working on the assumption that delivery dates would be met, bills customers in advance of them receiving the service for which they are already paying. "Quite simply, that is theft," says Rubin who cancelled his ADSL contract with Telkom earlier this month because of installation delays.
Click to expand...
 
Well, being one of these people, I can only concur: Telkom has and is still losing an amazing amount of skilled people due to so-called "voluntary retrenchment". What this process actually entails is moving core staff sideways, making them perform "skills retention mentorship", and then offering them severance packages. These people take said packages, as they have been unofficially told, in no uncertain terms, that their careers are over.

I'm overseas now, and guess what? So are most of my ex-colleagues....
 
And then the governmet will cry about the "digital divide" .
 
Yeah, I will shortly also be one of the overseas contingent.
Government policies is one of my top 3 reasons for leaving...

I love the country and people, but I simply refuse to put my long term future (and my childrens') in the hands of a corrupt, clueless government like the current one.
 
Only thing keeping me int he country is.....

Well i'm not sure...

I just really like this place and I know that every place has got its problems.
But I'm always constantly thinking about leaving...

Only prob is, I'm due to move into my new home soon, all that effort for nothing... I don't think so.

/sigh
 
More around this topic: http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/eco...sp?Nav=ns&lvl2=econ&ArticleID=1518-25_1839207
She maintains that the sheer size of the number of migrating people holds dire lessons for Africa's leaders and they should take heed of what such a phenomenon means.

"It is part of who we are as people to always move in search of greener pastures. Which is why, in this increasingly interconnected world, you'd better guard your human and intellectual capital base because, if you don't, they can easily move to where they are better appreciated and rewarded."

Ramphele maintains that human mobility is a facet of globalisation and it benefits those who are better positioned to compete for skills in the global economy.
Click to expand...
"You don't see this reverse migration happening in Africa. Why? It is because people are waiting for opportunities to develop here. We've had freedom in South Africa for 11 years and people have come in, but more have left.

"Some of those who have wanted to come back have discovered the country has monopolistic regulations with regard to information technology. Our connectivity costs are amongst the highest in the world and bandwidth is inadequate. We're shooting ourselves in the foot."

Ramphele insists that Africa's leaders need to be more strategic and appreciate that their people have value not just in their home countries, but also in the rest of the world.

"Like a company, you protect your market,' she says. "You don't lose it to others. You must nurture your people and create a vision to keep them at home. And day-to-day life must match that vision.
Click to expand...
 
If I had the means I would have left long ago.
The gov ask people not to leave and makes it difficult, but if you want to apply for a job "Sorry it is an affirmative position" WTF?
Why can't I leave if I can't get a decent job?
 
I agree my first job interview in quite some time. The interview ends, and the company tells me that provided they dont find someone of similar qualifications to me of "colour" I'll get the job.
 
Getting involved with the SNO from Access Network side would have been the only thing keeping me from going overseas. Unfortunately trying to find someone in TATA / VSNL who can offer any advice on the matter over the last 4 months has been fruitless.

Oh well, guess i'm off to join the other 3 million Saffers in the U.K....
 
The only reason i'm still stuck in this country is that i want to finish studying and learning a couple of extra languages b4 i pull the ..i.. and board that plane outta here.

And its quite sad. I love this country but unfortunately I reached the point a while ago when i was told that I can't get a promotion not because i'm not qualified but that i have a skin disease.

I think i'll go to a place where a couple of beers cost the same as a 24 mb/s uncapped line for the month. Where the goverment isn't a puss filled bureacracy with blame dodging @ lvl5 and my tax money is being used to actually help the people and not just exploit and pay a administration.

It's sad that this country looks so inviting @ first glance but soon becomes apparent to all taht its just a farce.

What am I going to go do after i leave this country? Well i think the first thing i'll do is enter a internet cafe and download the internet.
 
hey i'm coming nxt yr to visit and stay where the net is cheap, save me a seat would ya ? Till then.. good thing I did not do medicine, then i'd be stuck in SA forever
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X